New Delhi: A big dispute regarding milk may end now. Food regulator Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has clarified in its latest order that plant base products cannot call themselves milk. After the order of FSSAI, brands selling soy milk, almond milk, or oat milk will have to stop using the word milk. Along with this, e-commerce companies have been asked to remove such products from their portal with immediate effect, which despite having a plant base, call themselves milk or are identified by other words as dairy.
According to the order, milk or other dairy products can be used only for those products which come from animals. If the word milk starts being used for the products coming from plants, then it will be a case of miss branding.
Instructions to e-commerce companies not to sell plant products with milk labels
FSSAI has directed state food commissioners, food business operators, and e-commerce companies to check the labeling of such products. E-commerce companies have been asked not to sell plant products with milk labels on their platforms in the future also.
According to the order, the Food Products Standards and Food Additives Regulations, 2011 clearly lays down guidelines for milk and milk products and states that the term dairy cannot be used for any product that is milk or milk products. Or do not have products made from milk.
Exception
However, there are some exceptions to these provisions. Dairy-related words may be used in the naming of some products if they are based on an internationally accepted principle. Products such as coconut milk, peanut butter will continue to be used as they are internationally recognized and traditionally used in their nomenclature and such products are not milk or milk products substitutes. Also, soybean curd will continue to be used as the term curd is used other than dairy and also conforms to Codex standards.
Which Brands Sell Plant Base Milk?
There are dozens of brands in India selling soya and almond milk, cheese, and soy milk powder. The most popular are brands like Hershey’s and Raw Pressery but smaller brands like Urban Planter have also come up with such products.
The matter is also in court
Dairy companies have also gone to the court regarding this matter. On the petition of the National Cooperative Dairy Federation (NCDFI), the Delhi High Court had also given notice to all the parties including FSSAI. The Federation had said in the petition that action should be taken against those selling the alleged milk made from almond and soya as milk. It was also said in the petition that products or beverages derived from soy, almond, or other things cannot be sold like cheese, curd by calling milk or milk products. The court found this matter interesting and related to the public interest as it directly concerns the health of the person.
The matter had gained momentum when animal rights organization PETA had suggested all dairy companies including Amul to make plant-based drinks. In response, Amul accused PETA of maligning the image of the Indian dairy industry. But now after the cleaning of FSSAI, it will not be possible to sell any other substance in the name of milk.
